I am a photographic artist based in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, where eucalyptus forests, vineyards, and abundant birdlife shape my everyday environment. Living so closely with nature has deeply influenced both my way of seeing and my creative practice, offering moments of quiet observation and connection that inform my work.
Although Adelaide is my hometown, I spent over four years living in Sydney, where I completed my photographic studies. During this time, I exhibited in group shows and held work in local photographic galleries. The pace and energy of the city provided a formative foundation for my artistic development, and the relationships and experiences gained during this period continue to inform my practice.
My work has also been shaped by time spent in Australia’s remote landscapes and communities. These experiences fostered a strong sense of belonging and a heightened awareness of the land, its rhythms, and its subtleties. Through these encounters, I discovered a profound appreciation for stillness and the quiet, often overlooked nuances present in the natural world.
Drawing inspiration from the Australian landscape, my photography explores themes of presence, authenticity, and escape from the noise of everyday life. I am particularly drawn to contrasts within nature—the solidity of rock, the movement of the sea, and the cyclical return of light. Whether working in remote environments or closer to home, my practice is grounded in the belief that meaningful connection to place does not require distance, but attentiveness. Nature, in all its forms, continues to offer a space for reflection, grounding, and creative freedom.
Past Exhibitions
2023 Nyland Prize, Kennedy Arts Foundation, Adelaide
2022 Moonstruck, Group Exhibition, Frame & Brush, Bermagui
2016 Hype, Group Exhibition, 220 Creative Space and Gallery, Sydney
2016 Free, Group Exhibition, SunStudios, Sydney
2016 Entre Lineas, Group Exhibition, Contact Sheet Gallery, Sydney
2016 Land & Sea, Group Exhibition, 220 Creative Space and Gallery, Sydney
2015 Wish You Were Here, Group Exhibition, DFS Galleria, Sydney
2014 Mosaic, Group Exhibition, Manning Bar Sydney
2012 Adelaide Hills Wine Region – Winter Warmer Reds, Group Exhibition, Hahndorf Academy Regional Arts & Heritage Gallery, Adelaide
Note:
All photographic images are the property / copyright of myself.
No image is to be reproduced in any way, without the express and direct written consent from myself.
Whilst my photography page goes by the name of Michelle Lake Photography. My married name is Michelle Usher.
Awards
2024 Nominee, 17th International Color Awards
2023 Nominee, 16th International Color Awards
2023 Bronze Award, Black and White Photo Contest, reFocus Awards
2023 Finalist, Nyland Photography Prize, Kennedy Arts Foundation
2022 Nominee, 17th Black & White Spider Awards
2022 Nominee, 15th International Color Awards
2021 Nominee, 16th Black & White Spider Awards
2021 Nominee, 14th International Color Awards
2020 Honourable Mention, 13th International Color Awards
2020 Nominee, 13th International Color Awards
2019 Nominee, 12th International Color Awards
2017 Commended, Landscape Category, Australian Photography, Photographer of the Year
2017 Commended, Art Category, Australian Photography, Photographer of the Year
2016 Commended, Landscape Category, Australian Photography, Photographer of the Year
2016 Finalist, SunStudios Assistants and Emerging Photographer Awards
2015 Acceptance, Sydney International Exhibition of Photography
2014 Finalist, “Wish you Were Here” Photography Competition
2012 Finalist, Adelaide Hills Wine Region – Winter Warmer Reds Photography Competition